The Young Pope Season 1 Exclusive

In the opening scene of The Young Pope , a pelican—the medieval symbol of Christ’s sacrifice—waddles through an empty, sun-drenched St. Peter’s Square. It’s surreal, beautiful, and deeply unsettling. Then we meet Lenny Belardo, the newly elected Pope Pius XIII. He is young, American, impossibly handsome, and chain-smoking his way through the Vatican’s gilded corridors. Played with icy precision by Jude Law, Lenny is not your typical pontiff. He is a radical conservative, a manipulative genius, an orphan haunted by abandonment, and, quite possibly, a saint or a sociopath—or both.

: The sequence is set to a "Radio Edit" of "All Along the Watchtower" by Devlin & Ed Sheeran . This modern, upbeat choice highlights the show's blend of ancient tradition and contemporary attitude. Standout Musical "Pieces"

Created by Paolo Sorrentino ( The Great Beauty ), the ten-episode first season (2016) is less a conventional drama about the Catholic Church and more a hallucinatory, operatic meditation on power, faith, belief, and loneliness. It’s a show that dares to ask: What if the Pope was a rock star with the soul of a medieval inquisitor? The Young Pope Season 1

The Young Pope has received several awards and nominations, including:

The series follows the story of Lenny Abraham, a 47-year-old American cardinal who is unexpectedly elected as Pope Pius XIII. The new Pope is a maverick, known for his liberal views, love of rock music, and disregard for traditional Catholic values. As he navigates the complexities of the Vatican, he challenges the status quo and sparks controversy with his unorthodox decisions. In the opening scene of The Young Pope

To talk about The Young Pope without mentioning its visual language is impossible. Paolo Sorrentino, the Oscar-winning director of The Great Beauty , treats every frame like a Renaissance painting.

But the season’s arc dismantles his own defenses. Lenny prays not out of love, but out of rage and need. He wants a sign. When he finally receives one—in the form of a miracle involving a dying boy, a confessional, and his own tears—it’s ambiguous. Is it grace, or just chance? Sorrentino refuses to answer. Then we meet Lenny Belardo, the newly elected Pope Pius XIII

), a 47-year-old American cardinal who ascends to the papacy as Pope Pius XIII. Initially installed as a supposedly controllable "compromise" candidate, Lenny quickly reveals himself to be a radical, reactionary force who challenges centuries of Vatican tradition. Core Themes: The Orphaned Pontiff